Megachurch Cult Bible Camp Apologizes for Hazing Incidents Involving Pain Cream on Genitals

[muriel_volestrangler]

Harvest Bible Chapel, a megachurch in Illinois, recently held a 10-day-long “Camp Harvest” for kids that apparently involved counselors engaging in multiple forms of hazing.

According to a statement from the church, some campers were involved in the “Icy Hot Challenge,” which (at least on Urban Dictionary) is where you apply Icy Hot lidocaine, a numbing pain reliever, to your genitals to see who can withstand the pain the longest.
...
The other form of hazing wasn’t specified, but after an unscheduled late-night game of “Silent Football” (which involved “staff, students, and cabin leaders”), losers would receive a punishment. The church described some of those punishments as “juvenile and immature” and others as having “a general pattern of embarrassment, humiliation, and gross behavior.”
...
Remember that this is the same megachurch once run by Pastor James MacDonald, who was fired more than a year ago after details of his extravagant spending, financial mismanagement, and possibly hiring a hitman to murder his son-in-law came to light. He left the megachurch in shambles. Now two of their satellite campuses may have to shut down over tax problems. Oh, and also, MacDonald allegedly misused millions of dollars meant for the church for his own “financial benefit.” Also, MacDonald and his church filed a lawsuit against several writers who worked to bring the church’s corruption to light.

https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2020/08/06/christian-summer-camp-apologizes-after-multiple-unauthorized-hazing-incidents/

They've fired a person, or some people. But this is psychological abuse, designed to tie the vulnerable to the cult. It's how things like Jonestown start.

[3catwoman3]

1. WTF is even remotely Christian about something like this?

Last edited Thu Aug 6, 2020, 09:07 PM - Edit history (1)

One of their satellite campuses is a few miles down the road from me. There are police directing traffic for them when they have their services.

Apparently the police ought to be doing something else there, like arresting sadistic perverts.

[hedda_foil]

4. Their main campus changed its name when the pastor was nabbed.

It's now Highpoint Church and it's uncomfortably close to me.

[Major Nikon]

7. If you put some of this stuff on your naughty bits...

Yer going to be talking to Jesus, even if yer an atheist.

[Mariana]

10. Christianity is as Christianity does.

This type of Christianity is apparently pretty popular among Christians in the US.

[Act_of_Reparation]

11. This ain't Plato's Realm of Ideal Forms.

Christianity is what Christians do.

[Thomas Hurt]

2. ain't family values grand...

[Soph0571]

3. It is also sex abuse n/t

[yellowcanine]

5. Sexual assault is what it is.

Par for the course with the Jebus says mafia.

[Skittles]

6. people need to be arrested for this

this is just the usual sexual abuse under religious pretentions

[Karadeniz]

8. Amen!

[CaptYossarian]

9. With any luck, this will lead to sterility.

The "boys" only work if they're cooled.

The sterility could also lead to less abortions, so they at least have that going.

[uriel1972]

13. err no...

a little comp[assion for the unfortunate here please. Now punishment for the officials who did this is quite acceptable for me as long as it includes a stay inside a big house.

[CaptYossarian]

14. It would be one-sided compassion, as they would rather see us die.

They call themselves Christian, but they've lost sight of the true meaning. Most non-churchgoers are more Christlike than these hypocrites.

I do have compassion for all victims of all churches. But I still rip these heartless, hateful cretins whenever possible.

How does the Golden Rule apply to those who hate LGBTQ and people of color?

[uriel1972]

15. I see your point

as one of the LGBTQI+ people I am acutely aware of the hate, but is not clear that the victims are hateful to us.
The perpetrators on the other hand, sod them and their hate.

[CaptYossarian]

16. That was what I intended to say.

I apparently muddied the water in my effort to make it clear.

I thought only in marriage did two people on the same side disagree on something through bad communication.

I'm glad you responded so I could see where I messed up my message.

[uriel1972]

17. no bad feelings...

it's all good. I feel in a dark withered part of my heart that the perpetrators should feel the same pain as the victims.
However torturing people, especially in the name of justice makes us as bad as them and that is something I never want to be. I believe they should be excluded from the greater society in a humane way for the greater good of all. That's just me, though.

[CaptYossarian]

18. True. Then we would land in Dick Cheney territory.

Nobody wants to be a Dick (Cheney).

[The Genealogist]

12. And I thought Boy Scout camp was bad

I remember being at Boy Scout camp as a kid, and a favorite punishment for a boy who lost a belonging was to make him stand up in front of the whole mess hall and sing songs. I had to do this twice, different years. It was mortifying for an introvert like me. That was nothing compared to this garbage. Praise Jaysus or something.

[Iggo]

19. So the adults were rubbing cream on children's genitals?

Who went to jail?

[Solost]

20. Not right at all...